Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

The Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources recently came across a man in the west who wanted to put a small wind turbine in his back garden to power some of his home's electricity needs and reduce energy costs. The circumference of the turbine would have been smaller than a satellite dish, yet while one does not need planning permission for a satellite dish, he must go through the planning process for a wind turbine. We need to encourage wind energy and need a debate on it.